Combustion improver

ABSTRACT

A combustion improver wherein perssurized gas and compressed air are passed through separate chambers of a powered pump and into a common passage where they are mixed in a predetermined ratio for passage to a powered homogenizer for more complete mixture thereof before being fed to a burner or the like.

United States Patent 91 Ford, Jr.

l l Nov. 12, 1974 i 1 COMBUSTION IMPROVER [75] Inventor: Sanders Ford,Jr., Richmond, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Social Dynamics Inc., Berkeley,

Calif.

22 Filed: Mar. 19, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 342,499

[52] US. CL, 48/180 S, 48/180 C, 431/354 [51] Int. Cl B0lf 3/02, ClOk[58] Field of Search.. 48/187, 180 C, 180 R, 180 A,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,421,306 6/1922 Cummings48/180 R l.546,459 7/1925 Wolevcr 48/l80 R Primary ExaminerCarroll B.Dority, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Bruce &'McCoy [57] ABSTRACT Acombustion improver wherein perssurized gas and compressed air arepassed through separate chambers of a powered pump and into a commonpassage where they are mixed in a predetermined ratio for passage to apowered homogenizer for more complete mixture thereof before being fedto a burner or the like.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures 1 COMBUSTION IMPROVIZR BACKGROUND OFTI-IEINVENTION I ducted at the point of burning, that there is incompleteburning of the gas. This results in the uneconomic use of the gas, andthe production of pollutants, such as carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, orthe like.

In an attempt to overcome the above-set forth problems, U.S. Pat. No.556,490 dated Mar. 17, 1896, and U.S. Pat. No. 651,779 dated June 12,1900, to Cottrell disclose meters for mixing natural gas and air, andfor recording the quantity of the mixed gases that pass through themeter.

The meters of both of these patents are constructed for the purpose ofproviding a fixed gas to air ratio and include two rotating compartmentsof different sizes, fluidly connected at the interior of the meter,where the gases are mixed. Air is drawn into the larger compartment fromthe atmosphere and gas is fed to the smaller compartment and allowed toexpand therein. The gas compartment is provided with power driven vanesmounted on a common shaft extending between the compartments andsurrounded thereby. The vanes are driven by the expanding natural gasentering the meter, to thereby revolve the compartments for mixture ofthe gas and air, and to record the amount of mixed gas and air passingtherethrough.

In this manner, each of the prior art devices delivers a mixture at aspecific gas to air ratio. The gas and air, however, are not alwaysthoroughly mixed and are at a low or reduced pressure, created solely bythe revolution of the vanes within the meter. Due to the low pressureand the unhomogeneous mixture of the flow to a burner, the flame causedby the ignition thereof will not generally completely burn the gases,nor is the amount of heat generated thereby variable to any largedegree.

The present invention overcomes the above-set forth disadvantages, bythe provision of a powered pump having separate compartments into whichpressurized gas and compressed air are fed. The gas and air are thenmixed in a fixed ratio at the outlet side of the pump at substantiallythe same pressure they enter the pump. The mixed gas is then routedthrough an homog enizer to insure a perfectly homogeneous mixingthereof. The homogeneous mixture is at substantially the same pressureas the separate gases, and may then be fed to aburner or the like to besubstantially completely burned; In this manner, sufficient amounts ofheat for all uses willbe provided, and pollutants will be substantiallyeliminated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a combustion improvercomprising a powered pump divided into separate larger and smallerchambers, each of the chambers having separate inlet and outlet ports.Compressed air and pressurized gas are fed from separate sources viaconduits into the smaller chamber and the larger chamber, respectively.The outlets from the chambers are fluidly connected to a common conduit,for mixing the compressed air and pressurized gas in a predeterminedratio at substantially the same pressure as the gases fed into thechambers. The common conduit being fluidly connected to a poweredhomogenizer for more completely mixing the gases. The homogenizerincludes an outlet for connection to a gas burner or the like.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION may be used and more efficiently burned tothereby lower the overall cost of using natural gas.

And it is a still further object of the invention to provide a device inwhich pressurized gas and compressed air are first mixed in apredetermined ratio of gas to air, and then passed through a furtherdevice to insure the formation of a perfectly homogeneous mixture of gasand air.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, in crosssection, of the powered pump connected to the powered homogenizer of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view, in cross-section, of the powered pump; and

FIG. 3 is an end view, in cross-section, of the powered homogenizer ofFIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION'OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present invention comprisesa device to improve the combustion of natural gas for heating and otherheat generating applications. It includes a powered pump for thesimultaneous receipt of pressurized gas and compressed air to providecontrolled mixing of the gasses, and a powered homogenizer to provide acompletely homogeneous gas mixture for feeding to the point ofcombination.

FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the present inventioncomprising a system having a powered pump 11 fluidly connected to apowered homogenizer 13 by a conduit 15. The pump and homogenizer may bepowered in any suitable manner, such as by one or more electrical motorsdriving central shafts l7, 19, by means of belts and pulleys.-

Pump'll includes a'hollow body 21, preferably cylindrical in shape,having an opening 20 at one end and closed at the other end bya wall 22.The interior portion .of the bodyis divided into two separate chambers23,25 by a wall 35, and each-of the chambers is prowhich shaft 17rotatably and sealingly extends. As

, shown, the wall divides the interior volume of the body 17 androtatable therewith. The blades extend outwardly to the walls of thepump body to substantially fill the entire space between the shaft andthe inside diameter of the body. At the same time, compressed air, atsubstantially the same pressure as the gas, is fed from a variablesource (not shown) via inlet 27 into upper chamber 23. The air is actedupon by further blades 39, also six in number, which are mounted on thecommon rotating shaft. These blades extend outwardly to the walls of thepump body to substantially fill the entire space between the shaft andthe inside diameter of the body.

The gas from outlet 33 passes into a conduit 41 while the compressed airfrom outlet 31 passes into a conduit 43. These conduits merge into thecommon conduit 15, where the gas and air are mixed. The conduitsconnected to the inlets 29,31 and outlets 31,33 of the pump are chosenin such a manner that the gas and air are mixed in a predetermined gasto air ratio, of approximately 3 to l. The mixed gases pass through theconduit to' an inlet 45 of the powered homogenizer 13.

The homogenizer 13 includes a hollow body- 47, preferably cylindrical inshape and having the inlet 45 and an outlet 48. The complete homogeneousmixing of the gases within the homogenizer is preferably accomplished bya plurality of blades 49, fixed to the rotating shaft 19. As shown, eachofthe blades 49 extends along the length of the shaft 19 within thebody, and outwardly to the inside diameter thereof. Each blade isprovided with a plurality of holes or bores 43 extending therethrough.These holes are spaced evenly along the entire length and width of theblades to aid in the thorough mixing ofthe gases as they pass throughthe holes upon rotation of the blades.

The open ends of the bodies 21, 47 are preferably closed by end plates51, 53 sealingly fixed thereto as by bolts or other means passingtherethrough and held in a plurality of holes 55, 57 formed within thebodies. Each of the end plates 51, 53 is provided with a bore (notshown) in which the shafts 17, 19 are rotatably and sealingly carried.

It therefore can be seen that an improved apparatus for mixing air andgas has been provided. In this apparatus gas and air are inserted atapproximately the same pressure into separate chambers of the poweredpump. Each of the chambers is of a different size and the air and gasforced from the chambers will be mixed in a common conduit joined to theoutlets thereof in a gas to air ratio of approximately 3 to 1 atsubstantially the same pressure as the entering gases. This mixture isthen routed through the homogenizer for complete and perfectlyhomogeneous mixing thereof, and then to a gas burner or the like atapproximately the same pressure as the gas and air which entered thesystem.

In a laboratory test conducted by an independent testing laboratory, thepresent invention was compared with the normal connection to a gas-firedcommercial heater. In this manner, the following two modes of operationwere compared:

1. Natural gas only delivered to the burner; and

2. Lower flow of natural gas delivered to the apparatus of the presentinvention together with compressed air at substantially the samepressure. The resulting mixture was then delivered to the burner.

The following results were obtained:

1 The natural gas flow rate to the burner was approximately 1.29 cubicfeet/minute. This flow rate was determined by the pressure in theservice line and the diameter of the pipe used. The natural gas was thenignited at the burner and produced no sharp flamecone within the flame,thereby indicating a relatively inefficient burning. An analytical studyof the flue gases produced by the burning of this natural gas producedthe following results (-on a volume basis):

Oxygen 13.6

Carbon Dioxide 3.5 Carbon Monoxide 9000 parts per million (ppm) Methane380 ppm Ethylene 11 ppm Ethane ppm 2. With the apparatus of the presentinvention connected as described above, the natural gas flow rate to thelarger chamber of the poweredpump was approximately 0.86 cubicfeet/minute. Compressed air was fed to the smaller chamber atsubstantially the same pressure as the gas whereby a substantiallyconstant combined natural gas plus air flow rate of 1.17 cubic feet/-minute was delivered by the pump. When this gas and air mixture wasignited, it was noted that a distinct and sharp flame cone was formed,thereby indicating a more efficient burning of the fuel. An analyticalexamination of the flue gases from this burning showed that the fluegases contained the following (on a volume basis):

Oxygen [4.7 Carbon Dioxide 2.8 Carbon Monoxide Less than 30 ppm Methane61 ppm No other hydrocarbons were detected.

It is obvious, that with the more efficient burning of the fuel, andwith the much lower levels'of carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbonsin the flue gas, air pollution problems will be greatly reduced. Inaddition, due to'the more efficient use of the natural gas, a reductionin the use of the gas of approximately 33 percent appears feasible. Thiswould substantially reduce the ,price of natural gas to a user.

While the invention has been described in considerable detail, it is notto be limited to such details as have been-set forth except as may benecessitated by the appended claims. I

I claim:

l. A combustion improver comprising a powered pump, said pump having ahollow body divided into separate larger and smaller chambers withseparate inlet and outlet ports, a shaft rotatably mounted within saidbody and having a plurality. of blades. mounted thereon, said bladessubstantially filling the space between the shaft and the insidediameter in each of said chambers, said larger chamber in said poweredpump being approximately three times the volume of said smaller chamber,

a source of compressed air,

a conduit fluidly connecting said source of compressed air to the inletof said smaller chamber,

a source of pressurized gas,

a conduit fluidly connecting said pressurized gas to said inlet of saidlarger chamber, whereby, when said shaft is rotated, said blades willrotate in said separate chambers to act upon the gas and air enteringinto said chambers to force the same through said outlets of saidchambers into a common conduit for mixing of the gas and air in asubstantially three to one gas to air ratio at substantially the samepressure as the gases entering said chambers and a powered homogenizerfluidly connected to said common conduit for more completely mixing saidair and said gas, said homogenizer including a hollow body having ashaft mounted centrally thereof and an outlet port for connection to agas burner or the like, said shaft having a plurality of blades mountedthereon, and substantially filling the space between the shaft and theinside diameter of said body, said blades having a plurality of boresextending therethrough whereby, when said shaft and'said blades arerotated, said gas and said air contained within said homogenizer will becompletely and homogeneously mixed.

1. A COMBUSTION IMPROVER COMPRISING A POWERED PUMP, SAID PUMP HAVING AHOLLOW BODY DIVIDED INTO SEPARATE LARGER AND SMALLER CHAMBERS WITHSEPARATE INLET AND OUTLET PORTS, A SHAFT ROTATABLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAIDBODY AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF BKADES MOUNTED THERON, SAID BLADESSUBSTANTIALLY FILLING THE SPACE BETWEEN THE SHAFT AND THE INSIDEDIAMETER IN EACH OF SAID CHAMBERS, SAID LARGER CHAMBER IN SAID POWEREDPUMP BEING APPROXIMATELY THREE TIMES THE VOLUME OF SAID SMALLER CHAMBER,A SOURCE OF COMPRESSED AIR, A CONDUIT FLUDILY CONNECTING SAID SOURCE OFCOMPRESSED AIR TO THE INLET OF SAID SMALLER CHAMBER, A SOURCE OFPRESSURIZED GAS, A CONDUIT FLUDITY CONNECTING SAID PRESSURIZED GAS TOSAID INLET OF SAID LARGER CHAMBER, WHEREBY, WHEN SAID SHAFT IS ROTATEDSAID BLADES WILL ROTATE IN SAID SEPARATE CHAMBERS TO ACT UPON THE GASAND AIR ENTERING INTO SAID CHAMBERS TO FORCE THE SAME THROUGH SAIDOUTLETS OF SAID CHAMBERS INTO A COMMON CONDUIT FOR MIXING OF THE GAS ANDAIR IN A SUBSTANTIALLY THREE TO ONE GAS TO AIR RATIO AT SUBSTANTIALLYTHE SAME PRESSURE AS THE GASES ENTERING SAID CHAMBERS, AND A POWEREDHOMOGENIZER FLUIDLY CONNECTED TO SAID COMMON CONDUIT FOR MORE COMPLETELYMIXING SAID AIR AND SAID GAS, SAID HOMOGENIZER INCLUDING A HOLLOW BODYHAVING A SHAFT MOUNTED CENTRALLY THEREOF AND AN OUTLET PORT FORCONNECTION TO A GAS BURNER OR THE LIKE, SAID SHAFT HAVING A PLURALITY OFBLADES MOUNTED THEREON, AND SUBSTANTIALLY FILLING THE SPACE BETWEEN THESHAFT AND THE INSIDE DIAMETER OF SAID BODY SAID BLADES HAVING APLURALITY OF BORES EXTENDING THERETHROUGH WHEREBY WHEN SAID SHAFT ANDSAID BLADES ARE ROTATED, SAID GAS AND SAID AIR CONTAINED WITHIN SAIDHOMOGENIZER WILL BE COMPLETELY AND HOMOGENEOUSLY MIXED.